Here's my route plan; done yours yet?

Dambusters2013 starts with an iconic event hosted by RAF Scampton at their 617 Sqdn Heritage Centre on the morning of 14th May 2013. At this stage of the planning, the riders will set off from there at about 11.30 - midday with the next fixed meeting point being the evening of 16th May at the Mohne Dam in Germany. That gives all the riders two and half days to make the trip which means plenty of time to stop and see things along the way .... which is half the fun!

So here is my route plan .... at least as it stands today ... might change ... might not ...

From RAF Scampton down to Dover and hop across to Calais - thanks to P&O ferries for the discounts for Dambusters2013 riders!! From Calais up the coast to Dunkirk to see those famous beaches where some 330,000 men of the BEF were rescued by the 'little ships' from in May 1940.

From there a quick run to Ypres for an overnight stop.

On Wednesday 15th May I will stay around Ypres and take in some of the First World War sites and museums - including the famous 'Last Post Ceremony' which happens at the Menin Gate every night at 8pm with another overnight stop near Ypres.

Up early and away on the 16th to pick up the track of Lancaster AJ-J flown by Sqn Ldr David Maltby which we know because the wonderfully detailed navigation log kept by his navigator, Sgt V. Nicholson - you will find this information in your Rider Pack!

Along the way I plan to stop off and visit the crash sites of Astell, Burpee, Barlow and finally Hopgood .... again you will find details about all of these sites and directions on getting there in your Rider pack ..... here as an example is the sheet for the crash site of ED864 flown by F/L Bill Astell;

Overnight near the Mohne Dam before up and out early again on the morning of the 17th to blast back to the UK but stopping long enough at Steenbergen in the Netherlands to visit the grave and crash site of Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC!

Have you made your plans yet?? As soon as you have donated your £250 or more at our Virgin Money Giving site (http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Dambusters2013)  we will email out your full Rider Pack and you can crack on with your planning ... a great antedote to all this snow and cold!